Are you watching the 'sexiest video' on Facebook?

Social networking site Facebook has warned its users to stay away from new malware that encourages them to click on a 'sexiest video ever' link and end up with installing the virus on their computer systems.

Thousands of users on the social networking site have been targeted by the new scam which asks users to click on the video link, addressing the user by name, and then leads to the installation of a malware, the Daily Mail reported.

The link reads: "This is without doubt the sexiest video ever! :P :P :P" and is accompanied by a video entitled "Candid Camera Prank [HQ]", featuring shots of a busty woman in a bikini and short skirt.

The user is tricked into believing they are downloading a new version of a popular video programme, when in fact they are downloading the malware, said the report.

The file downloaded also appears to contain adware Hotbar -- a toolbar which appears in Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer, it added.

Graham Cluely from security software developer Sophos said: "Judging by the number of messages posted on Facebook, thousands of people received this attack.

"If you were one of them, you should scan your computer with an up-to-date anti-virus, change your passwords, review your Facebook application settings, and learn not to be so quick as to fall for a simple social engineering trick like this in future."

Once the link has been clicked on, it is then posted on that user's newsfeed -- causing the virus to spread virally throughout the website.

Facebook has recently been criticised by European data protection officials for putting users' privacy at risk with changes to its service, which allows third-party websites to access users' profiles.

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